Skip to main content

Table 15 Studies of SPG neurostimulation

From: Sphenopalatine ganglion: block, radiofrequency ablation and neurostimulation - a systematic review

Neurostimulation

First author

Year

Medical problem

Stimulator

Approach

Imaging

Types of stimulation

How to identify the right spot

Study design

Number of cases

Outcome

Tepper et al. [45]

2009

Intractable migraine

Medtronic model 3625 or 3628

Infrazygomatic approach

Fluoroscopy

Customized, average amplitude, 1.2 V, pulse rate 67 Hz, pulse width 462 μs

Paresthesia with stimulation at the back of the nose and deep in the back of the soft palate

Case only

11

2 pain-free, 3 had pain reduction, 5 had no response, 1 was not stimulated

Ansarinia et al. [44]

2010

Cluster headache

Medtronic model 3625

Pterygopalatine fossa

Fluoroscopy

Customized, average amplitude, 1.7 V, frequency 88 Hz, pulse width 294 μs

paresthesia with stimulation in the posterior nasopharynx and root of the nose

Case only

6

Total 18 CH attacks, complete resolution with SPG stimulation in 11 attacks, partial in 3, no relief in 4.

Schoenen et al. [41]

2013

Cluster headache

ATI SPG stimulator

Pterygopalatine fossa proximate to the sphenopalatine ganglion

CT

Customized, mean frequency 120.4 Hz, mean pulse width 389.7 μs, mean intensity 1.6 mA

X-ray

Randomized controlled

28 cases, with 3 randomized settings.

Pain relief achieved in 67.1% of full stimulation-treated attacks compared to 7.4% of sham-treated attacks. P < 0.0001

Elahi et al. [47]

2015

Idiopathic right facial pain

Medtronic model 3378

The pterygopalatine fossa

Fluoroscopy

0.5 mV, pulse width 250 – 450 μs, and 40 – 80 Hz

X-ray

Case report

1

2/10 pain on 6-month follow-up

Meng et al. [88]

2016

Cluster headache

Medtronic model 3487A

Pterygopalatine fossa

Fluoroscopy

Bilateral stimulation, right 0-, 1+, 130 Hz, 120 μs, 0.7 V; left 8-, 9+, 130 Hz, 120 μs, 0.8 V

X-ray

Case report

1

Headache frequency reduced to once a week, pain level 1/10 at 4 months

William et al. [46]

2016

Idiopathic facial pain, supraorbital neuropathy, hemicrania continua, facial anesthesia dolorosa, occipital neuropathy

Medtronic Subcompact Octrode

SPG

Fluoroscopy

Unknown

X-ray

Case series

5

80% reported sustained facial pain at mean follow-up of 9.6 months.

Jurgens et al. [42]

2016

Cluster headache

Neurostimulator, described in [41]

Pterylopalatine fossa

CT

Customized, applied as soon as the patient feels cluster headache attacks

X-ray

Cohort study. Long-term follow-up from [41]

33 cases

61% of patients were either acute responder (>50% relief from moderate or greater pain) or frequency responder (>50% in attack frequency) at 24 months

Barloese et al. [43]

2016

Cluster headache

Neurostimulator, described in [41]

Pterylopalatine fossa

CT

Customized, applied as soon as the patient feels cluster headache attacks

X-ray

Cohort study. Long-term follow-up from [41]

33 cases

30% experienced at least 1 episode of complete attack remission (attack-free period exceeding 1 month).